The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 24]

LETTERS FROM JUAN CEREZO DE SALAMANCA TO FELIPE IV
Military affairs
Sire:
By two letters of the same date as this, I have
informed your Majesty of my arrival in these
islands, in accordance with the orders to the
incumbents of vacancies in these governments. Referring to them, I intend in this letter to give brief
information of what concerns military matters.
The conservation and increase of the islands
depends on the trade with China and Japon, -providing that the other provinces shall steadily maintain a suitable population. This will be secured by
maintaining the reputation of your Majesty's arms
and true military discipline; and by taking heed to
preserve what your Majesty holds today, without
attempting new enterprises. For the one your
Majesty has sufficient force, but for the other there
would be needed other and fresh forces.
The army of these islands is composed of nineteen
companies. Six of them are in garrison in this city,
and one in the fort of Cavite; six others in Terrenate; three in the island of Hermosa; one in the
island of Oton; another in that of Cibui; and another